House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Rove

WASHINGTON (CN) – The House Judiciary Committee today subpoenaed Karl Rove to testify about whether the White House improperly meddled with the Justice Department in prosecuting Alabama’s former Democratic governor, Don Siegelman. The subpoena orders Rove to testify on July 10.

Rove, President Bush’s former top political adviser, also is expected to be questioned about the role of the White House in the firings of nine U.S. attorneys. The firings of the prosecutors forced the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers has been negotiating with Rover’s attorneys for more than a year. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Rove has failed to cooperate with our requests,” Conyers, D-Mich., told The Associated Press. “Although he does not seem the least bit hesitant to discuss these very issues weekly on cable television and in the print news media, Mr. Rove and his attorney have apparently concluded that a public hearing room would not be appropriate. Unfortunately, I have no choice today but to compel his testimony on these very important matters.”